Draft mechanism for trailer wagons



Feb. 5,1935.

G. c4 .JETT

DRAFT MECHANISM FOR TRAILER WAGONS Filed March 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 5,1935.

` A G. c. JET-r DRAFT MECHANISM FOR TRAILER WAGONS Filed March 24, 19.35 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l' INVENTOR.r @m5/.7 E.' 1.752775.

' v ATTORNEYS,-

;5r tors either singly or in trains, are commonl ployed for hauling dirt and like loose mat in excavatingor ground llingoperations. Each arig-id tongue which er' the wagon or Asteady the Patented Feb. 5, 1.935y 4 UmrenSTATE This invention relates to draft mechanisms for trailerwagons and primarily for trailer wagonsof the cart type.

Trailer Wagons of ,thisvitype7 Vjdrawn by tracy emerials is ordinarily equipped with serves not only to draw and ste withfits load, but also to support same against forward jandaft-tilting andagainst side, swing. Due to their great weight, ordinarily twenty tons or morewhenjloaded, andv due to und surfaceover the extremely irregular gro shock-like forcesy andy vehicle by which it is drawn.

One object of rthe present invention` is to provide an improvedtongue for wagons of, this type and mounting means thereforA of rugged,

simple, l andk economical design. p

ing the tongue ofatrailerwagongt tongue against swinging,

ularities in the ground surface.

Another object isto providefav new `and irn-A proved separable coupling for'releasably hitcho a leading Vehicle, and so designed as to. securelyhold the either vertically or laterally, and at the same time aiord ample flexibility for turning andfor permitting the vehicles*v Another object is to lprovide a` 4Ilexibl .of this character which through a maximum angle.

greater than ninety degrees by the use accidental separation requiring the use of too1s.ff

Another object is toprovide an head .for trailer improved draw tongues having a plurality"l of means, at different elevations, for connection with a leading vehicle, thelower of which may be utilized to couplethe tongue toua tractorfand the upper of which may be utilized to couple the tongue to aleadingitrailer when trailers are conwill permity turning The,4 form of coupling hereinafter described will permit the lead:-V ing vehicle to tur'nrthrough an'angleconsiderably to the right or left from a straight course,thi s being made possible .ofunusually slender elements combined in a novel manner to effect alaterally com- Fig 4 ,is a Sem-011m 'ew O nth pact design without sacrificing strength.

Another object is to provide a new and iinproved separable coupling which is proof vagainst but which mayreadily be separated manually to release the trailer without which they are commonly operated, the tongues of such wagons are subjectedto tremendously heavy ,and stresseshwhich are transf; mitted to andultmately sustained bythe connection between eachtngue vand. the leading e coupling tween a tractor nections are. preferably disposed at substantially thereby .reduce the"rnagniti'ide of thestresses re sulting.fr'oinsucheccentric loading.

head for trailer tongues eilective wto` rigidly 'sustain the .same against ver'ti'cal'or,` lateral play but yield'able in thedirectionof p ullto afiord protectionl against excessive draft `loa'dsriry shocks. The arrangment is pre ventgyielding of the iiralvgfv of pull except'when subjected to draft loads ma# teriaQllyin lxcess otnrmal, Sgo-as to avoidobject'ionable oscillations that might' 'otherwise' oc,- cur'fii`.thedraw`head werefperrriitted toyie'ld to draft loads at orbelow rlorrrlal.'

yet Anotherobject is to provide an improved wear f resisting and readily replaceablemounti'ng means vere loads and shocks to which it issubjected without wear ordamage to its supporting ton gue l pressed or implied, from invention.

In the accompanying drawingst-f "Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of'a portion nisms constructed in accordance-with the present invention. f l' i f "Fig, 2 isa longitudinalsectional. View, onthe tion, respectively, of the'mounting 4mean'sforl'the trailer tongue .shown vin Fig. 1. 1 Fig. 8 is a perspective View of abearing block,

for.

employed. A

draw head andthe rear draw head of a leading trailer.,I These alternative conof offset of each with-.respect tothe' tongue and Another bjectis to provldea resilient ferablysuch asto pre-J4 for the draw head,` well able to withstandthe sel-v Otherpbiects and advant'ges will appear,` exi the following "descrip-i tion of an illustrative embodiment 'of Y the presentV ofv a trailer train equipped 'with draft mecha-f line 2--2 of Figf3, of a draw head and associated .Figsg and '7 are views in plan and side-elevaand Fig. 9 is a sim'larviewof an end plate ti'ere-v Fig. l0 isa perspective) view of a spring hanger 'Each' of the trailer wagons shown, or' partially` shown, .in Fig. lincludes a .conventional'ba'se nectedintrain. By thisfarrangenent, compensal tion is; made for the.diiferencenn elevation ,be-.r

headin the direction. f

el i

, Wardly, respectively,

frame 10, rockably supported intermediate its ends upon a pair ofcrawler tread vmechanisms 11 in a well known manner, and carrying a conventional hopper type body 1 e Each wagon is equipped with a tongue 13 carrying a draw head 14 and connected to a flexible coupling 15, all of which are constructed in accordance with the present invention, and through which each is connected either to a conventional tractor 16 orto a preceding wagon.

Each tongueA shown at 13 comprises a substantially straight hollow tube which is rigidly fixed at its inner end to the forward end of the wagon frame 10 and which slopes downwardly and forwardly therefrom to an elevation convenient for connectionto a tractor.

In this instance the rear or inner end of each tongue `13 is securely gripped between a pair of separable hub sectionsv 17-17 formed upon the inner ends of a pair of heavy header bar sections 1li-18,' respectively, which extend' acrossl the front of the wagon. The bar sections 18-"18 are fianged or otherwise fashioned at their outer ends 19 to receive the side members of the wagon frame 10 to which they are securely anchored by bolts 20 or otherwise. The hub sections 17-171 are, 6 clamped onto the tongue'by bolts 21, and through bolts 22 securely lock the tongue against rotation or withdrawal. f

Each draw head 14 shown comprises` a substantially T-shaped casting, preferably hollow to veconomize in weight andfmaterial, and having l arms 23 and 24 projecting upwardly and 'downs from the forward end yof a` stem 25. The stem 25 is housedwithin the forward end of the wagon tongue. `,Each draw head 14 is supported primarily by. a bearingblock 26, removably fixed in the endof the tongue, and

extending horizontally through a longitudinall f guideway formed in the forward portion ,of thev stem 25. The stem is laterally confined-by and between a pair of upper and lower flanges 27-2'7, formed along one edge of the block, and a bearing plate 28 removably Vapplied tothe Vopposite edgethereof.. 1

4A bearing'block 26 and itsbearing plate 28 are shown, particularly in Figs. 8 and 9. As indicated therein and inFig. 4, the external face of the, flanged edge AofA the block is preferablyconvexly curved to match'the internal surface of the tubu-V lar tongue, and the outer .facey of the bearing plate 28 is similarly curved. Lugs 29 projecting from an edge ofthe block are shaped to extend through and interlockwithend slots 30 formed in the plate 28. 'I'he bearingblock and plate are removably but securely anchored in the tongue byfaf pair of tie bolts 31, which extend therethrough and through the blockand lugs 29. The

block, thus anchored, serves not only as a rigid support and guide for the forward portion of the draw head-stem 25, but also as an effective reinforcing brace for the open end of the tongue. .K

"The draw head stem 25 is additionally supported at its inner or rearend primarily by a roller 32, mounted upon a horizontal shaft 33, journalled in spaced bearing lugs ,34 projecting from the inner end of` the stem. vThe periphery of the roller 32r is transversely curved to match the interior of the tubular tongue 10 and coacts :therewith tosustain the inner end of ithestem against vertical displacement. They outer vsur,- faces 35 of Jthe bearing lugs 34 are alsoconvexly curvedto match the interior of the tongue and` 'establishing It is of course understood that rotation ofthe stem 25 about its axis is prevented by the stationary bearing block 26, and particularly by the bearing contact of the flat top andY bottom faces of the block against the internal surfaces of the K longitudinal guideway in the stem.

The stem 25 is longitudinally slidable on theV the direction of the draft pull.l Such action is rer sisted, however, by a heavy compression spring 36,

block, 26 .so that the draw head `14 is yieldable in housed within the stemrearwardly of the` block 26. Y The spring bears at its rear end against the end wall 37 ofthe stem and at its forward end aganista spring hanger 38 seated upon the forward end of the bearing block, so that the draw head stem isyieldably vurged rearwardly into the tongue. The spring hanger 38 is preferably grooved, as at 40, to receive the convexly curved rear end face `41 lof the bearing block." The forwardend facet 42 of the bearing block is also preferably convexly curved to match a concave seat 43 formed in thestem which normally bears against the blockunder the thrust induced by the spring r The initial compression in the spring 36 is preferably such as to hold the draw head 14 and its stem 25 against outward movement except when` subjected to .draft loads substantially greater 'than normal. -In this instance the spring is under an initialcompression pressure of about three thousand pounds effected yby the introduction ofthe bearing block- 26 between 'it and the seat 43.V For this purpose, the kforward end face 42 of the block asf is inclined (seevllg. 2) so asA to impartto the block a tapered orwedge-like'formation, and the seat 43 isfsimilarlyiiiclined, soI that when the block is forcedlaterally along theseat 43 into land through the stem 25, into the positionshown, it acts on the spring hanger 38 to lcompress'the spring.

e The block 26 andfspring 36V arethus assembledu withinthe stem 25, 'and the bearing plate 28 applied to the edge ofthe block, priorto insertion of the stem into the-lopen' end of the tongue 10. Thereafter, theblock 26 is secured in position within-' the tongue by-insertion ofthe tie bolts 31 v therethrough.A l Y Each draw `head 14 is providedvwith upper and lower holes 44 and 45, each adapted to receive the spindle 46 of an appropriate fiexible coupling 15 bywhich it may be separably connected to a leading vehicle. s'p'acedabove and below the longitudinal axis of the tongue 13, the lower lhole being usedA for a connection with a tractor and the upper hole 44 being used nection with a leading trailer wagon, asindicated in Fig. 1.` i N The flexiblev coupling'shown is designed to permitthe leading vehicle to turn through a maxi'- mum angle. Itincludes a substantially cylindrical, verticallyelongated, swivelblock 47v mounted topturnfreely about a Vvv rtical pin 48 releasably mounted within the draw head bracket 49, ordinarily provided at the rear of the leading vehicle. The block' 47 carries a pair of parallel ears 50 which project tangentiallyV therefrom and which are spaced apart to receive 4therebetween an ear 51 carried by the spindle 46. The ears 50 and -51 are hingedly connected by a horizontal pivot pin 'Y 'I'he pin 52 projects throughone ofthe ears 50,-

through the intermediate ear 51, and into a socket formed in the other ear 50, thebase of the socket- These `holes are preferably equallyr for establishing a conf the length of the block 47.

y The spindle `4.a `isfpm'e'rati'yflongitudinally -t'a-w pered and each of the'holes and`45 are shapedto. at the samefv-bat lwith' "sumeent clearance to permit free rotation voi;the spindle*tl'rerein` The positiono'f the spindle Ii-iti'eillher hole is -xedby'a stop collar 57f,-formed^ onfth'elargeend thereof', and abearingwasher 58"'lbsely' y'mounted upon the small end? of thefspindlesustains the'draft y, load. y The washer 58,-i's preferably providedftvith a spherical face 59A whichfbeasagainst-a correspondinglyy shaped seat fonned'inthedraw head `14,V andfserves tojdlstribute'fthe 'draft lloa ver thatsealt. The Vasher issccdrely but releasably` retained by afsplittnut v60, threaded on the* endL off the spindle, and lckedin place by 'a clamp bolt 61, disposed to interengage a vgroove or yno'tch' formed in the spindle.

It willthusbe noted that a releasable coupling has been provided which is peculiarly adapted to securely hold the trailer tongue against vertical or side swing and to amply sustain the heavy shock loads transmitted to it from both the leading and trailing vehicles; in which ample bearing surfaces are provided throughout its joints to sustain those peculiar loads with a minimum of wear; and which, at the same time, affords all the flexibility required to permit very sharp turns and to permit both vehicles to accommodate themselves freely to severe irregularities in the ground surfaces over which they are operated in normal use.

By reason of its vertical elongation and consequent extended bearing on the pin 48, and by reason of the very short distance between the pins 48 and 52, the swivel block 47 is well able to sustain the heavy vertical loads eccentrically applied to it through the pin 52. In this instance that portion of the block 47 between the ears 50 is recessed (note the dotted lines in Fig. 3) to accommodate the ear 51, permitting the pin.52 to be placed close to pin 48, the distance between the axes of these pins being materially less than By reason of this relationship, those forces necessary to sustain the block 47 against canting, under the vertical load eccentrically applied through the pin 52, are so reduced as to substantially eliminate the premature wear and cutting action on the pin 47 so commonly experienced in couplings heretofore employed for this purpose. y

By the use of a pin 52 of headless form, its entire length is available to sustain the heavy loads to which it is subjected; and by the use of retaining means of thetype described all projections, which would add to the overall width of the joint at this point and thereby interfere with and limit the hinge action about the pin 48, are eliminated.

It will also be noted that although the spindle i 46 is freely rotatable in the draw head 14, it is solidly mounted and well able to sustain the heavy shock-like loads transmitted from ythe tongue, as well as to sustain the heavyl draft loads transmitted through the coupling. As a result of its tapered form, its large forward end provides an extendedberlng surface where the fload iscon-kv centrated, and the-.lreductionain *its rear end"` renders available afgreaterzportion of the thrust sustaining efacejzof the collar 58 to .sustain Athe draft'tloadi' The: self adjusting lfeature of the collarpjwlth Aits spherical `face 59,. centralizes thei-'diaft-fload1on'tire nut and by clamping theznut Sofonthe-ithreadsof the'spindle all wear on the threads iseliminated. f "i y-=Va`ribus:changivs'frnay be made inthe embodi# ment V of 'the' invention hereinabove specifically describedlwitnout .departing from or sacrificing theladvantagesofithe.invention as defined inthe appended claim v l iv m islaam-ef ,l *lLfInfa-.cartlftype trailer` wagon having afbas'e frame-',-- the combination of a pair of header bar" sections arranged end to ,end and together span` ning their-ront of said wagon, each of said sec'- f tionshavin'g-:aliiangedouter endrigidly secured tosaid-lframe, ai' tongue lhaving an inner `end gripped byi'andibetweenthe'inner ends of said sections, and a draw head carried by the outer y endfoffsaidtonguel '"1 "f f f In 'altraile'rwagon having combination of a pair of header bar sections arranged' ylend ltoend and together spanning the front of said wagon, each of SaidseCtiOns having a'ila'ngedf outer end -rigdly' secured tov` 'said frame, mating hub sections carried'by the inner ends of said bar sections, a tongue having an inner end gripped by and between said hub sections, and a draw head carried by the outer end of said tongue.

3. In a cart type trailer wagon having a base frame, the combination of a pair of header bar sections arranged end to end and together spanning the front of said wagon, said sections being rigidly secured at their outer ends to said frame, I

rigidly fixed at their outer ends to said frame,v

hub sections carried by the inner ends of said bar sections, a tubular tongue having a rear end gripped by and between said hub sections and sloping downwardly and forwardly therefrom, and a draw head mounted in the forward end of said tongue.

afbase frame, the! 5. The combination with Aa cart type trailer i wagon having a tubular tongue rigidly attached thereto, of a draw head having a supporting stem mounted for longitudinal movement within the forward endof said tongue, resilient means housed in said tongue for resisting such move-` ment, and vertically spaced means on said head for alternatively receiving a draft connection. 6. The combination with a cart type trailer wagon having a rigid tongue provided with a hollow forward end, of adraw head having a supporting stem` housed in the forward end of said tongue, and a bearing block fixed in the forward end of sad tongue, said stem being supported at its forward endby said block and at its rear end by the interior of said tongue, said block andstem having bearing surfaces coacting to preventrotation of said -head relative to said tongue. l i

7. The ycombination with a cart type trailer col f wagonV4 having alrigidtongue,v provided `with 'ai hollow forward end, of a draw head havinga supporting stem housed in. the :forward endfo! said tongue, a bearing member-'. xed in, saidV tongue and extending horizontally throughlthe forward portionv of lsaid vstem ttoisupportythe,

latter, and, meansV .at the rearpportion' of said stem coactingvwthl theinterioraof said tongue to further support saidstem. r p- :v

8; The combination with ,a trailer wagonhaving a tongue provided withfa hollow forward end, of a Adraw head having asupporting stemlongitudinally movable in the forward end `oi.' said V4tongue, a bearing member fixed in said tongue,

and extending through the forward portion ofsaid stern to slidablyf support ,l and guide the latter, resilient meanscoactingwithsaid memberA and stem to yieldablvresist 4longitudinal movement of sadstem, and aroller car- Leemans saidstemto sudablyz-supporvandguide the latten." and a compressionr. spring f coactingwith ysaid member andstem `to Yyie'ldably resistglongitudinalY movementoi' Asaid stem;` said member having an inclinedface coacting with saidstemto compress,

said spring upon insertion? o! said,` member Ainto Saidstellil.` I-

{.:f 3 .A t Y n f 10. A carttype trailergwaonhavinga'rigid tongue, a. "draw j headv on gsaid. tongue -having alongitudinally; tapered 'holethereim a correspondingly tapered spindle journalled hOliZOntallyin saidfhole, a stop collar-fon the-large. forward end of said, spindle, a thrustollar; looselyimounted.y

on the small rear; endo of said spindle,l .thrust sus-` taining means, for-- ,releasahly retaining; said thrust y.collar 'on "said spindle., andmeans 1 for; exibly Awimlin` Said spindle tf1-@leading vehicle.

11,. Afcravrt, typefl trailer wennf having'fa rigid tongue, a drawhead `nn,saidftongua apspindle JournalledA horizontfllyfin Said" head, a Shop col1ar on the forwardvend, ofsaid spindle, `a split nut :clamped ontothe rearend=of said spind1ea thrust Collar rockably `venglagedgwith said. head, and coacting with .said nut to trans.-

mit. amijappiyy a draft load to.` and,.centr'a`11y of said nut, and means torflexibly connecting said spindleto a leading vehicle f GEORGE, c'. JE'rT. 

